The Bug's Last Words
The Byte Before Christmas
'Twas the
night before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a user was using ... not even a mouse;
The programs were hung from the bugs in their code,
In hopes that a guru would soon cure their woes;
The data
were nestled all snug in their beds,
While versions of software danced in their heads;
The boss dimmed the lights as I locked up my desk,
A couple days off and a well-deserved rest;
Then all
of a sudden there came such a clatter,
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.
Away to
the processor I flew like a flash,
What a terrible sound .. like a massive headcrash;
The lights they were blinking and beaming aglow,
The hardcopy printout said "Let service know!";
When what
to my wandering eyes should appear,
On a silicon wafer ... a field engineer;
A little device driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Chip!
More
rapid than Macro, his cursor insane,
He whistled and shouted like a video game.
Now,
Pascal! Now, Basic!, Now, Fortran and Cobol!
On RPG! On PL/1, On Dibol and Snobol!
To the top of the registers, the bottom of core!
Run diagnostics and see what they store!
As memory
leaves when electricity flies,
The 'Rep' cracked a smile and loosened his tie;
He was chubby and plump, said the place was a wreck,
And I laughed when I saw him (in spite of high tech).
A wink of
his eye, and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He was dressed from his head to his feet in a suit,
His briefcase was heavy with tools to re-boot.
With
bundles of bits bulging out of his slacks,
He looked like a pro 'bout to fix a blown pack.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
Reseated PC boards, then turned with a smirk;
Hit
return with his finger and said "Here it goes,"
And giving a nod, into the CRT he dove.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere leaving the site,
"Restore the data, and all will be right!"
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 Welcome, !
Wow, where did December come from?! We want to wish you and your family a magical and safe holiday season and a Happy New Year!
Thank you for your support throughout the year. We look forward to another successful year of helping our clients improve Software Quality and Processes!
Your QA Advisors at NVP Software Testing
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 Why Automated Software Testing Fails
Written by: Elfriede Dustin in Software Test and Performance Magazine
While at a new project kickoff meeting, the project manager
introduces you as the test lead. The manager says that the project will use an
automated test tool and that due to this planned automation, the test effort is
not expected to be significant. The project manager concludes the meeting with
a request that you submit within the next week a recommendation of the specific
test tool required, together with a cost estimate for the procurement of the
tool.
Huh? You're caught totally by surprise. What in the world just
happened? You sit alone in the meeting room, wondering where the project
manager got his expectations with regard to automated testing. You decide they
must have been developed after reading a vendor brochure.
A scenario similar to this is one that I have actually
experienced. If this ever happens to you, my suggestion would be to clear up
and correct these misconceptions immediately. The idea of automated testing
often brings high expectations, and a lot is demanded from the technology. But
some people have the notion that an automated test tool does everything from test
planning through execution, without manual intervention of any kind. And while
it would be great if such a tool existed, that is pure fantasy; and no such
tool exists.
In fact, automated test tools in most cases do not initially reduce
the test effort nor the test schedule. While it has been proven that automation
is valuable and can produce a return
on investment, there isn't always an immediate payback. Such
misconceptions of test automation are many and persistent in the software
industry. Here are some of the more common ones along with guidance on how to
manage.
[For the purpose of the newsletter, we have included the misconception headings only. To read more about how to manage these misconceptions, please CLICK HERE and go to page 28. Or visit www.stpmag.com and look up Back Issues - November 2008.]
Misconceptions:
1. Automatic test tools do everything.
2. One tool fits all.
3. Test efforts are immediately reduced.
4. Schedules are immediately compressed.
5. Automation tools are easy to use.
6. All tests can be automated.
7. Automation provides 100 percent test coverage.
8. Test automation is the same as capture and playback.
9. Automated software testing is a manual tester activity.
Do you have any comments to make on this issue? If so, become part of our Linked In Software
Testing and QA group by CLICKING HERE and join the discussion today! |
 The ROI of Software Testing
Have you ever tried to calculate the ROI of Software Testing to show to upper management or just for your own peace of mind? Perhaps you got confused with the many different articles, formulas, and case studies available on the Internet. We know the feeling!
That is why we are in the midst of writing a simple, easy to follow white paper that will clear any misconceptions about calculating the ROI of Software Tesitng. After reading this white paper, you should be able to easily calculate the ROI of Software Testing in your company and confidently explain every step along the way.
Coming soon...
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Economic Blizzard
So another year has come and gone! Things are wrapping up (no pun intended!) for 2008 and we are preparing for 2009. It is the end of the 2008 budget and the start of a new year full of exciting (or not so exciting) projects and initiatives.
This year has been a tough one. We have spoken to many people in companies that have had no choice but to let go of most of their testing / QA staff due to budget cuts and reorganizing in reaction to the current economic state. Many of these people have told us that there are now new projects coming on board and not enough people to handle them. Testing and QA staff are overwhelmed because their teams have been compromised. We want to let all of you know that if things seem tough in your company at this time, we are here and we can help. The nice thing about having a smaller sized company like NVP come in on contract is that we are highly flexible, reliable, and very competitively priced. We can do short project stints, come in and out of projects as necessary, or be involved on a more long-term basis. It's an option to take the stress off of testing and QA teams that might be a little short-staffed in the coming months. Every situation is unique. We sincerely hope that your company is not in a pressured situation. Just know that we are here and ready to help! Wishing you all the best for the holiday season and the New Year to come. Your QA Advisors at NVP Software Testing
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